Since the 1970s, researchers have suspected that diet and nutrition are related to colorectal cancer risk. Numerous studies published since that time have confirmed the connection between what we eat and risk of this cancer. Many health experts agree that a high fiber diet is important for cancer prevention, but questions remain about how much and which types of high fiber foods may reduce colorectal cancer risk most effectively. This has led to interest in specific high fiber foods, especially whole grains.

Start the day with a bowl of whole grain cereal or oatmeal. For cold cereals, choose one that contains at least 6 grams of fiber per serving and make sure you pick one where sugar does not appear first, second or third in the ingredient list. Oatmeal is not only high fiber but studies show that it helps reduce cholesterol. But if you are like me I am not fond of the mushy breakfast food. Until a dear musician friend introduced me to steel oats. Now I can't get enough of these nutty oats and even eat them for late night snacks.

Steel cut oats are whole grain groats which have been cut into only two or three pieces. Which means the the inner portion of the oat kernel is not missing like in rolled oats. They are golden in color and resemble small rice pieces. Steel-cut oats are also known as coarse cut oats, pinhead oats, Scotch oats, or Irish oats. Because the steel cut oats are more natural with less pre-processing, they may be more nutritious than the more popular rolled oats. But to me they give off a more nutty taste and I like the small crunch over the mushy consistency of the rolled oats. The cooking time is longer on steel cut oats but really worth the wait.

When shopping for them in your grocery store, look for canisters much like coffee cans as they are kept in air tight containers.

Preparing your Steel Oats.

1 cup steel cut oats
4 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp butter
Fresh Blueberries or other fresh fruits.

Combine oats and other ingredients in medium saucepan and bring water to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium. Simmer for 30 minutes stirring occasionally to keep from sticking on the bottom. For the last 5 to 10 minutes of cooking time you will need to stir more frequently as it thickens. Spoon into a bowl and top with fresh fruit. Some people like to add a little milk to the bowl to give them a creamy texture. Makes 4 servings.

Due to the recent death of Ryder Cup golfer Darren Clarke's young wife Heather to breast cancer, golfer Padraig Harrington is donating all the prize money he earns from playing in the PGA Championship to breast cancer research. To honor the memory of Heather Clarke, if he takes the trophy, he plans to donate the $1.2-million dollar purse to the breast cancer charity of Darren Clarke's choice.

"Darren has his choice of charity, and I'll donate whatever I win this week." Harrington said. "This is at least a practical way of helping." Many of the golfers in the tournament are wearing black arm bands to show respect.

Late Saturday night, Heather Clarke, only 39 years of age, mother of two small boys, passed away in London's Royal Marsden Hospital after her struggle to survive breast cancer that had spread to her bones and liver.

"I think both Darren and Heather were exceptionally brave and so dignified about what they've gone through," stated Harrington. "It's been terribly hard."

On Thursday, the funeral for Heather Clarke will take place in Portrush and she will be laid to rest at Ballywillan Church. Just ten years ago, Heather and Darren were married at Ballywillan Church.

On Darren Clarke's blog, he states, that in case you missed the BBC interview, he is quitting golf to go home to support and care for his wife who is battling breast cancer. Heather, his wife, is struggling a lot these days against a cancer attempting to defeat her.

"There are more important things in my life than golf and it's now time for me to be at home to continue helping Heather with her battle."

Heather has been battling breast cancer that has spread to her bones and liver. They have two sons, and while Clarke is a competitive athlete, his first priorities and heart are with his wife.

At the beginning of the year, he wrote in his blog, "I'll sign off for this year by wishing every one of you a very prosperous, happy and successful 2006. These last 12 months have been difficult to say the least, but when I have been able to get out on the course there have been enough signs to convince me that there are good times ahead. It was no coincidence that my late flourish to the season coincided with an improvement in Heather's condition and hopefully that trend will continue next year."

Now Clarke says it is time to go home.

08.13.2006 UPDATE: Darren Clarke has lost wife after long struggle with breast cancer.

The Marie Keating Foundation slogan is Our Aim is to Enlighten not Frighten and the goals of the foundation are to raise money and make cancer education available for every person living in Ireland and beyond.

Irish singer Ronan Keating lost his mother to breast cancer in 1998, and along with other members in the Keating family, decided to start a foundation in Marie's name as a way to honor her and as a means of preventing other family members from feeling as lost and vulnerable as they felt from their own lack of cancer knowledge at the time of Marie's breast cancer diagnosis.

To spread their educational message about cancer, the foundation has established three Mobile Cancer Information Units which are based in the Eastern, Western and Southern regions of Ireland so that all residents in the Republic of Ireland will have free access to breast cancer information.

Each mobile unit is equipped with take-home printed information on colon, lung, skin, testicular, prostate, cervical, ovarian and breast cancer. There is a nurse onboard to speak with anyone privately about any personal concerns regarding cancer or for a relative, work colleague or neighbor. Dr. MyToe is an educational outreach program designed for senior level Biology students. The Marie Keating Foundation also presents cancer information on the foundation website. The Keating family has put together a very nice foundation website in cancer education.

Victoria's Secret international supermodel, television and film actress Helena Christensen was in Dublin Ireland last week to launch Fashion Targets Breast Cancer campaign to raise money for programs supporting young women under 45 diagnosed with breast cancer. All money raised through the sale of the t-shirts go to Action Breast Cancer, a project of the Irish Cancer Society and Europe Donna Ireland, the Irish Breast Cancer Campaign.

Christiansen told the Irish Medical Times that it is important that women practice self-exams for early signs of breast cancer -- and that women don't ignore any warning signs out of fear. "My doctor from an early age told me to touch myself around the breasts and under the armpits, and not feel weird about it! Especially when you're young, you get a little bit intimidated by your body. It's going through so many changes."

Last year, the sale of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer designer t-shirts raised €240,000 for services provided to young women in Ireland facing breast cancer. Christiansen added that women who felt worried should see their physician and not leave their health to chance. "I've always thought it's better to go to the doctor one too many times than to postpone it."

It's sour grapes of some kind. That's all I can conclude after hearing what a Welsh physician had to say about cancer, cancer research, celebrities and money. Dr. Paul Walker is quoted as saying that a disproportionate amount of research money is spent investigating cancer because celebrities supporting anti-cancer campaigns bring too much attention to cancer and that the average person fears cancer when they should not worry. Dr. Walker, who chairs the Welsh public health association PHA Cymru, is in a certain position of power in medical matters, which makes his personal perspective all the more disturbing.

Irish pop singer Ronan Keating, an ex-Boyzone star, who lost his mother Marie to cancer, and is currently launching a Cancer Research UK awareness campaign in Newport, Wales, made a public comment of his own regarding Dr. Walker's insensitive and ill-informed statements on cancer:

"You don't knock charities that are doing good work. It is disgraceful that a doctor could say something like that. He (Dr. Walker) said that men and women in the street fear cancer more than they should - but if one in three people are being diagnosed with cancer, they have every right to be concerned. I am very disappointed in him. It is totally absurd that someone in his position could say these things."

From all the cancer survivors -- from all the families who have lost someone to cancer -- from the many who are working tirelessly to find a way to curb the near-epidemic numbers of cancer diagnosis -- thank you Keating, we could not have said it better.